Portable isolator

ABSTRACT

This specification discloses a portable enclosure for protecting the contents of the enclosure, for example, patients, from the surrounding environment. The enclosure has a wheeled stretcher base on which is mounted a frame which contains life support equipment. The main frame has spaced U-shaped rods having their lower ends attached to the floor and a rigid door frame supported on one end of the frame. An X-ray floor is supported on the frame. A flexible transparent bag with reinforced bottom is supported on the floor, and the end of the bag is clamped to the door frame. A stretcher slide is supported in the bag above the first floor. The first floor is X-ray penetrable providing a space for air to circulate between the two floors. A stretcher slides on the top floor and is of a length suitable to support a large man. The stretcher support is hinged at its center so that a patient can be lifted to a sitting position. An X-ray film support is attached to the lower part of the upswinging half of the stretcher. An X-ray camera may be supported on top of the door frame and outside the cover and the patient X-rayed through the cover. A swinging door is supported in the door frame through which the patient and stretcher may be removed from the enclosure. The door frame has means for attaching it to the door of a clean room or the like into which the patient is to be transferred. An inlet for sterile air is provided in the floor of the enclosure.

United States Patent Brendgord et al.

[ 1 July 25, 1972 [54] PORTABLE ISOLATOR [72] Inventors: Thomas Brendgord, Erie; Karl Kereluk,

Fairview, both of Pa.

[73] Assignee: American Sterilizer Company, Erie, Pa.

[22] Filed: Sept. 19, 1969 21 Appl. No.: 862,153

Primary Examiner-Dalton L. Truluck AnurneyCharles L. Lovercheck ABSTRACT This specification discloses a portable enclosure for protecting the contents of the enclosure, for example, patients, from the surrounding environment. The enclosure has a wheeled stretcher base on which is mounted a frame which contains life support equipment. The main frame has spaced Ushaped rods having their lower ends attached to the floor and a rigid door frame supported on one end of the frame. An X-ray floor is supported on the frame. A flexible transparent bag with reinforced bottom is supported on the floor, and the end of the bag is clamped to the door frame. A stretcher slide is supported in the bag above the first floor. The first floor is X-ray penetrable providing a space for air to circulate between the two floors. A stretcher slides on the top floor and is of a length suitable to support a large man. The stretcher support is hinged at its center so that a patient can be lifted to a sitting position. An X-ray film support is attached to the lower part of the upswinging half of the stretcher. An X-ray camera may be supported on top of the door frame and outside the cover and the patient X-rayed through the cover. A swinging door is supported in the door frame through which the patient and stretcher may be removed from the enclosure. The door frame has means for attaching it to the door of a clean room or the like into which the patient is to be transferred. An inlet for sterile air is provided in the floor of the enclosure.

11 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures Patented July 25, 1972 3,678,921

4 Sheets-Sheet 1 grwmtov 71/0 MAS Ewe/ma ro A64 A 4 AZMEL ax Patented July 25, 1972 4 Shoots-Sheet 5 FIG. 8

FIG 9 ll ----1 /4 I I I l I J grwmflot THO/VI AS BKENDGORO KARL A EKEL A FIG. 3

CM LM/MZ Patented July 25, 1972 3,678,921

4 Sheets-Sheet 4 FIGA PORTABLE ISOLATOR STATEMENT OF INVENTION This invention relates to isolators and, more particularly, to portable isolators for moving patients from one location to another without exposing the patient to the environmental atmosphere.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION This invention relates to portable enclosures and, more particularly, to portable enclosures which isolate the inside of the enclosure from the surrounding air.

The portable enclosure is a portable germ-free patient transport systems vehicle. It contains its own battery operated germ-free life support system and features for treatment and care of the patient while in the enclosure. It provides capability of moving a patient in and out of the unit without microbiologically contaminating the patients environment.

The system has a built-in attaching mechanism which attaches the chamber interface sterilizing equipment. This feature permits the interface and surface to be sterilized prior to moving a patient or object from a germ-free environment into the portable enclosure and vice versa.

The clear plastic bag, which is a clear plastic with reinforced plastic bottom, has armports, stethoscope receptable, waste bag, service outlets, and storage pocket. The bag is easily removed and is disposable. The bag is gasket sealed to the entrance lock perimeter.

A protective plate is placed inside the bag to protect the bag underside from damage during use. A specially designed stretcher slides on the plate, allowing the patient or object to be placed in or removed from the enclosure with minimum effort.

A battery operated life support system is built into the car.

Air flow is through filters which enter at the head end of the isolator bag and discharge at the foot end. The design permits complete X-ray capability and the device is made so that the patient can be moved to a sitting position and can be X-rayed with a camera outsidethe bag. A cassette slide opening runs the entire length of the vehicle and materials used in the stretcher and slide plate permit X-ray.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the invention to provide an improved portable transporter for transporting patients and the like.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved portable transporter with a door frame having means on it to attach it to a clean room.

Another object of the invention is to provide a portable isolation chamber which may be supported on a standard litter.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is an isometric view of the portable enclosure according to the invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the portable enclosure.

FIG. 3 is a front end view of the portable enclosure shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a rear end view of the portable enclosure.

FIG. 5 is a side view of the portable enclosure showing the patient sitting up foran X-ray photograph.

FIG. 6 is a side view of the portable enclosure adjacent a germ-free room.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged partial cross sectional view taken at line 7-7 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken at line 8-8 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken at line 99 of FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Now with more particular reference to the drawings, the portable isolator enclosure is supported on a standard litter indicated at 16, having a stretcher 19 supported on it. The litter has wheels 17 and a tilt and height adjustment mechanism 18 of a conventional type familiar to those skilled in the art.

The entire isolator can be attached to an emergency door connecting it to another chamber by bringing the end of the other chamber 50 against the gasket 48, which is supported in a groove 51 in the frame member 15. The other isolator 50 is held to the isolator by means of a clamp 52. The isolator includes the main frame 10, stretcher slide 11, door frame 12, supports 13 and bag 14.

The main frame 10 includes the elongated laterally spaced longitudinally extending side members which extend from door frame 12 to the end remote from the door frame, where they are connected together by the rear cross member 49. The door frame 12 is fixed to the side members of the main frame 10 and the door frame extends upwardly therefrom. The door frame has side members and a top member and a bottom member 15 which define an opening of a size suitable to receive a stretcher with a large man on it. The clamp 36 is of a type familiar to those skilled in the art. Clamp 36 extends through the cross member 49 and the end of clamp 36 engages an end of the litter 16. The clamp 36 urges the litter into engagement with the front cross member 46 of the main frame 10. The stretcher slide plate 28 is fixed to the main frame 10 at its front end. The stretcher slide plate is fixed to the bottom member 15 of the door frame by bolts 47. Groove 48 is formed in the front end of frame member 15 and groove 48 receives a gasket 53.

A person may be transferred from the isolator chamber disclosed herein to a second isolator or to a sterile room by moving the door frame of the isolator disclosed into engagement with a second isolator indicated by phantom lines 50 and the gasket 48 will form a seal between the two isolators while a person is being transferred. The clamping member 52 is adapted to hold the two isolators together while the transfer is being made. The transfer of the patient on the stretcher can be made without exposing either the patient or stretcher to contamination of the atmosphere around the chamber.

The bottom member IS of the door has spaced upper and lower members indicated which define the space and an opening 53 is formed in the stretch slide and in the upper part of the member 15 so that air can pass from the duct 39 from the source of filtered air 40.

A hat-shaped member 23 provides a space to receive an X- ray cassette and for the circulation of air. The hat-shaped member is generally U-shaped in cross section and has its front end and sides supported on the stretcher slide plate 28. Stretcher 19 has legs 54 which rest on the stretcher slide plate on opposite sides of the hat-shaped member 23.

The bottom wall of bag 14 extends under the slide plate, under the lower member I5 of the door frame, and the bag is held in sealed relation with the door frame 12 by ring 45. The stretcher slide plate is supported in spaced relation to the main frame 10. The slide plate extends back into the bag and supports the stretcher 19.

The bag 14, door frame 12 and door 24 form an enclosure for the stretcher and person on it. The stretcher 19 with its mattress 20, stretcher slide plate 11 and hat-shaped member 23 are all inside the enclosure. When the bag is in place with its rim around its open end held to the door frame, the entire bag and frame can be supported on the litter 16 and transported.

By moving the member 15 into engagement with a second isolator chamber, the litter l9, mattress 20 andperson on the litter can be transferred into another sterile chamber without exposing them to contamination of the atmosphere around the chamber.

The bag may be made of a transparent plastic material having a reinforcing or abrasion resistant fabric or other backing at its bottom to give it strength and resistance to puncture. The bag 14 is sealingly attached to the frame 12 by means of a clamping and sealing ring 45. Ring 45 engages the periphery of the bag 14 adjacent its open end and squeezes it into sealing engagement with the groove 52in the door frame 12.

A stretcher slide 28 is received in the bag and the stretcher l9 rests on the stretcher slide 28. The stretcher 19 has a mattress 20 on it as shown. An opening 21 is provided for intravenous fluids to be given to a patient inside the bag and armports are provided for access through suitable glove arrangements in a conventional manner. The stretcher has a first part 40 and a second part 41 of approximately equal length hinged together to swing about an axis 42. A waste disposal bag 32 is also supported on the isolator so waste can be moved out of the bag 14. The frame 10 is clamped to the litter stretcher by clamp 36, which hasan end 54 which engages the litter l6 and urges the litter into engagement with said door frame.

Filtered air is admitted through opening 39. The support rods 13 are taller than said door so that a patient may assume a sitting position in said bag. The stretcher 19 is hinged at its midpart so that a patient may be held in a sitting position by the support stay 37. The floor of the isolator is made of X-ray penetrable material so that the patient in the isolator maybe X-rayed. A battery operated life support system 40 is built into the carriage. Air flows into the head end of the isolator bag and is discharged out the foot end. A filter 41 is provided in the bag to prevent back flow due to changes in the pressure in the isolator bag. The bag 14 has a relatively small open end wherein it receives the door frame 12. The bag tapers to a large size at the support rods 13 so that the patient has headroom to sit upright in the bag.

The foregoing specification sets forth the invention in its preferred practical forms, but the structure shown is capable of modification within a range of equivalents without departing from the invention which is to be understood is broadly novel as is commensurate with the appended claims.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A portable enclosure comprising a main frame,

means for supporting said main frame on a litter, a door frame having a top and sides defining an opening suitable to receive a person fixed to one end of said main frame and extending upwardly therefrom,

a stretcher slide fixed to said door frame extending generally parallel to said main frame and spaced upwardly therefrom,

a transparent flexible bag receiving said stretcher slide and means sealingly attaching said bag to said door frame around the edges of said door,

a ventilation section supported on said stretcher slide and providing a space for the circulation of air between said stretcher slide and said ventilation section,

a stretcher slidably supported on said ventilation section,

said stretcher being of suitable length to support a large man,

said stretcher having a first part and a second part of approximately equal length, hinged together to swing about a transverse axis, whereby a patient lying on said stretcher may be moved to a sitting position,

said ventilation section being adapted to support said stretcher with said first part moved generally perpendicular to said second part,

and means to support an X-ray film on said first part of said main frame below said ventilation section.

2. The portable enclosure recited in claim 1 wherein said litter has floor engaging wheels.

3. The portable enclosure recited in claim I wherein means is connected to an opening in said stretcher slide for connecting to means for admitting air to the space inside said bag.

4. The portable enclosure recited in claim 1 wherein said bag has an opening for conducting air from said bag.

5. A portable enclosure comprising a litter and a horizontally disposed main frame and a vertically disposed door frame,

said door frame having a top, sides and a bottom defining an opening of a size to receive a person,

a horizontally disposed stretcher slide fixed to said door frame and extending generally parallel to said main frame and spaced therefrom,

an elongated bag open at one end supported on said main frame,

said main frame having vertical supports extending up wardly therefrom,

said bag having means attaching it to said vertical supports holding said bag in extended position,

and stretcher means slidably supported on said stretcher slide,

a door attached to said door frame, and means attaching the open end of said bag to said door frame whereby said bag and said door form a sealed enclosure with said stretcher adapted to be supported therein,

said stretcher slide being of a length approximately equal to the length of said stretcher means,

said stretcher slide being disposed in spaced relation to said main frame,

said bag receiving said stretcher means and said stretcher slide.

6. A portable isolator comprising a wheeled vehicle having a frame,

a main frame means attaching said main frame to said vehicle frame,

a door frame attached to said main frame and extending upwardly therefrom,

said door frame having a top, sides and a bottom,

a stretcher slide fixed to said door frame and extending over said vehicle frame in spaced relation thereto,

a transparent bag having an open end sealed to said door frame,

said bag being adapted to receive a patient on a stretcher,

and means on said frame supporting said bag in extended position, and a door on said door frame, and means for sealing said door to said door frame.

7. The isolator recited in claim 6 wherein said means supporting said bag in extended position comprises upwardly extending rods fixed to said frame,

and means on said bag for attaching it to said rods.

8. The enclosure recited in claim 8 wherein spacer means is provided between said bag and said stretcher slide for holding said bag in spaced relation to said stretcher slide for air to circulate.

9. The enclosure recited in claim 6 wherein said door frame has means on the part thereof remote from said frame for attaching it to interface equipment in a patient care room.

10. A patient isolator comprising a bag having an open end,

said bag being made of transparent material,

a generally horizontally disposed main frame and a generally vertically disposed door frame having sides and a top defining a door opening fixed to said main frame,

a stretcher slide fixed to said door frame spaced above said main frame and received in said bag,

means supporting said bag on said main frame,

said door frame extending upwardly from said main frame,

and means sealing said open end of said bag to said door frame whereby said door frame forms a closure for said bag,

a door on said door frame for closing said open end of said bag.

1 1. A portable enclosure comprising,

an elongated main frame, a door frame, a stretcher slide,

and a bag,

said main frame having means thereon to support it on a litter,

said door frame being fixed to said door frame and extending upwardly from said main frame,

said bag being of a length to receive a large person on a stretcher,

means sealingly connecting said bag to said door frame thereby providing a sealed enclosure with said door frame, and said door for a person on a stretcher,

and means on said main frame supporting said bag in extended position providing an unobstructed space for said stretcher with said person thereon 

1. A portable enclosure comprising a main frame, means for supporting said main frame on a litter, a door frame having a top and sides defining an opening suitable to receive a person fixed to one end of said main frame and extending upwardly therefrom, a stretcher slide fixed to said door frame extending generally parallel to said main frame and spaced upwardly therefrom, a transparent flexible bag receiving said stretcher slide and means sealingly attaching said bag to said door frame around the edges of said door, a ventilation section supported on said stretcher slide and providing a space for the circulation of air between said stretcher slide and said ventilation section, a stretcher slidably supported on said ventilation section, said stretcher being of suitable length to support a large man, said stretcher having a first part and a second part of approximately equal length, hinged together to swing about a transverse axis, whereby a patient lying on said stretcher may be moved to a sitting position, said ventilation section being adapted to support said stretcher with said first part moved generally perpendicular to said second part, and means to support an X-ray film on said first part of said main frame below said ventilation section.
 2. The portable enclosure recited in claim 1 wherein said litter has floor engaging wheels.
 3. The portable enclosure recited in claim 1 wherein means is connected to an opening in said stretcher slide for connecting to means for admitting air to the space inside said bag.
 4. The portable enclosure recited in claim 1 wherein said bag has an opening for conducting air from said bag.
 5. A portable enclosure comprising a litter and a horizontally disposed main frame and a vertically disposed door frame, said door frame having a top, sides and a bottom defining an opening of a size to receive a person, a horizontally disposed stretcher slide fixed to said door frame and extending generally parallel to said main frame and spaced therefrom, an elongated bag open at one end supported on said main frame, said main frame having vertical supports extending upwardly therefrom, said bag having means attaching it to said vertical supports holding said bag in extended position, and stretcher means slidably supported on said stretcher slide, a door attached to said door frame, and means attaching the open end of said bag to said door frame whereby said bag and said door form a sealed enclosure with said stretcher adapted to be supported therein, said stretcher slide being of a length approximately equal to the length of said stretcher means, said stretcher slide being disposed in spaced relation to said main frame, said bag receiving said stretcher means and said stretcher slide.
 6. A portable isolator comprising a wheeled vehicle having a frame, a main frame means attaching said main frame to said vehicle frame, a door frame attached to said main frame and extending upwardly therefrom, said door frame having a top, sides and a bottom, a stretcher slide fixed to said door frame and extending over said vehicle frame in spaced relation thereto, a transparent bag having an open end sealed to said door frame, said bag being adapted to receive a patient on a stretcher, and means on said frame supporting said bag in extended position, and a door on said door frame, and means for sealing said door to said door frame.
 7. The isolator recited in claim 6 wherein said means supporting said bag in extended position comprises upwardly extending rods fixed to said frame, and means on said bag for attaching it to said rods.
 8. The enclosure recited in claim 8 wherein spacer means is provided between said bag and said stretcher slide for holding said bag in spaced relation to said stretcher slide for air to circulate.
 9. The enclosure recited in claim 6 wherein said door frame has means on the part thereof remote from said frame for attaching it to interface equipment in a patient care room.
 10. A patient isolator comprising a bag having an open end, said bag being made of transparent material, a generally horizontally disposed main frame and a gEnerally vertically disposed door frame having sides and a top defining a door opening fixed to said main frame, a stretcher slide fixed to said door frame spaced above said main frame and received in said bag, means supporting said bag on said main frame, said door frame extending upwardly from said main frame, and means sealing said open end of said bag to said door frame whereby said door frame forms a closure for said bag, a door on said door frame for closing said open end of said bag.
 11. A portable enclosure comprising, an elongated main frame, a door frame, a stretcher slide, and a bag, said main frame having means thereon to support it on a litter, said door frame being fixed to said door frame and extending upwardly from said main frame, a stretcher slide fixed to said door frame and extending along said main frame and spaced therefrom, said door frame having a top, side walls, and a bottom defining a door opening adapted to receive a person on a litter, a door on said door frame, adapted to be opened to admit a patient supported on a stretcher, door sealing means for forming a seal between said door and said door frame, said bag being elongated and having an open end receiving said stretcher slide, said bag being of a length to receive a large person on a stretcher, means sealingly connecting said bag to said door frame thereby providing a sealed enclosure with said door frame, and said door for a person on a stretcher, and means on said main frame supporting said bag in extended position providing an unobstructed space for said stretcher with said person thereon. 